Importance

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Abstract

A touch-sensitive switch is disclosed whose electrical circuit is provided on a printed board (28). The touch-sensitive switch is coupled to a touch-sensitive switching area (12) on a panel or cover (11) of an electrical appliance via a sensor element (44). The sensor element (44) consists of a flexible, electrically conducting plastic or foam material. Two parts (24, 25) of the sensor element (44) are received in a receiving element or receiving cage (18) which is produced from an electrically insulating, transparent plastic. Said receiving element or cage electrically insulates the two sensor element parts (24, 25) from each other by means of a dividing wall (21) and encases them from the exterior, thereby providing a sufficiently long air and leakage path between current-carrying elements and an opening (16) in the panel. A lighting element projects through said path and guides the light emitted by an LED (29) to a light outlet in the switching area (12) in the manner of a light guide. Alternatively, an interior casing (23) can be provided downstream of the opening (16) and sealingly surrounds the lighting element (15), across the air and leakage path, and at the same time retains the sensor element (44).

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First Claim